Jan 29, 2014
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GRANTHAM, Pa. — With the chance for a regular-season sweep of Messiah for the first time since the 1998-99 season, the Elizabethtown College women's basketball team could not stave off the Falcons' second-half rally, falling to its Commonwealth Conference rival Wednesday evening, 59-58.
E-town (14-3, 8-3 CC) began the game three-for-three from the floor as Taylor Kreider, Taylor Alwine, and Alyssa Aichele put the Jays up 6-3 in the first three minutes.
Taylor Miller had put Messiah (12-6, 8-3 CC) up 4-3, but that lead only lasted 18 seconds before Alwine's jumper sent EC back in the lead for the remainder of the half.
Aggressiveness on the offensive end was the key for the Blue Jays in the first half. E-town registered 14 first-half points in the paint. Meanwhile, defensively, they held the Falcons to just 6-for-31 from the floor.
Miller, who had a game-high 25 points for Messiah, drilled a jump shot to drop E-town's advantage to seven (20-13), but back-to-back three-point plays sent the Jays' cushion back to 13.
Rachel Forjan dished inside to Emily Martin in the post. She was fouled in the act of shooting and hit the layup and ensuing foul shot. The next offensive possession, Kreider's pass from the baseline was deflected. Martin was in the vicinity and touch-passed it out to Forjan, standing behind the three-point line. The York Catholic grad sank the trey with 4:14 remaining in the first half.
The Falcons had the lead back into single digits with less than a minute to go, but Kreider snagged her 11th rebound of the first half and put the ball back up and in to make it 30-20 in favor of E-town. Kreider hauled in a defensive rebound with six seconds left off a missed three by Libby Timmer. She finished the first half with a double-double (12 points, 12 boards), her ninth of the season.
Elizabethtown stretched its lead to 17 thanks to another made three from Forjan, and the Jays were comfortably in front, 41-24, with 15:39 left.
After shooting over 46 percent from the floor in the first half, the Blue Jays were just 11-for-33 in the final 20 minutes. While Messiah wasn't shooting lights out in the run of play, the Falcons did a lot of damage from the foul line. In fact, they had more made free throws (21) than field goals (18).
E-town went through a five and a half minute scoring drought that saw the Falcons go on a 13-0 run to take the lead for the first time since being up 4-3 early.
Miller hit two more free throws to put Messiah up four, 59-55, with less than a minute remaining in the game. Out of a timeout, Forjan hit her third three of the contest to make it a one-point affair with 35 seconds to go.
The Jays' defense forced a miss, but there was not enough time to get up the court for a high-percentage chance at the victory. Forjan's desperation shot from half court was blocked as time ran out.
Kreider finished the game with a team-high 20 points and 17 rebounds. She moves within 35 points of 1,000 in her E-town career. Forjan added 15 points.
The women's basketball team remains on the road this Saturday, February 1, when they head to Annville, Pa. to take on Lebanon Valley. The Dutchmen beat the Jays in overtime in the first matchup of the season. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
GRANTHAM, Pa. — With the chance for a regular-season sweep of Messiah for the first time since the 1998-99 season, the Elizabethtown College women's basketball team could not stave off the Falcons' second-half rally, falling to its Commonwealth Conference rival Wednesday evening, 59-58.
E-town (14-3, 8-3 CC) began the game three-for-three from the floor as Taylor Kreider, Taylor Alwine, and Alyssa Aichele put the Jays up 6-3 in the first three minutes.
Taylor Miller had put Messiah (12-6, 8-3 CC) up 4-3, but that lead only lasted 18 seconds before Alwine's jumper sent EC back in the lead for the remainder of the half.
Aggressiveness on the offensive end was the key for the Blue Jays in the first half. E-town registered 14 first-half points in the paint. Meanwhile, defensively, they held the Falcons to just 6-for-31 from the floor.
Miller, who had a game-high 25 points for Messiah, drilled a jump shot to drop E-town's advantage to seven (20-13), but back-to-back three-point plays sent the Jays' cushion back to 13.
Rachel Forjan dished inside to Emily Martin in the post. She was fouled in the act of shooting and hit the layup and ensuing foul shot. The next offensive possession, Kreider's pass from the baseline was deflected. Martin was in the vicinity and touch-passed it out to Forjan, standing behind the three-point line. The York Catholic grad sank the trey with 4:14 remaining in the first half.
The Falcons had the lead back into single digits with less than a minute to go, but Kreider snagged her 11th rebound of the first half and put the ball back up and in to make it 30-20 in favor of E-town. Kreider hauled in a defensive rebound with six seconds left off a missed three by Libby Timmer. She finished the first half with a double-double (12 points, 12 boards), her ninth of the season.
Elizabethtown stretched its lead to 17 thanks to another made three from Forjan, and the Jays were comfortably in front, 41-24, with 15:39 left.
After shooting over 46 percent from the floor in the first half, the Blue Jays were just 11-for-33 in the final 20 minutes. While Messiah wasn't shooting lights out in the run of play, the Falcons did a lot of damage from the foul line. In fact, they had more made free throws (21) than field goals (18).
E-town went through a five and a half minute scoring drought that saw the Falcons go on a 13-0 run to take the lead for the first time since being up 4-3 early.
Miller hit two more free throws to put Messiah up four, 59-55, with less than a minute remaining in the game. Out of a timeout, Forjan hit her third three of the contest to make it a one-point affair with 35 seconds to go.
The Jays' defense forced a miss, but there was not enough time to get up the court for a high-percentage chance at the victory. Forjan's desperation shot from half court was blocked as time ran out.
Kreider finished the game with a team-high 20 points and 17 rebounds. She moves within 35 points of 1,000 in her E-town career. Forjan added 15 points.
The women's basketball team remains on the road this Saturday, February 1, when they head to Annville, Pa. to take on Lebanon Valley. The Dutchmen beat the Jays in overtime in the first matchup of the season. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.
